Tree stand with seat lift

ABSTRACT

The tree stand with seat lift is adapted to be mounted to a tree or other upstanding object and includes a vertical support frame, a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree, a seat member, and a strut. The vertical support frame has an upper end and a lower end and is supported against the tree with a means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree. The seat member is hingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame and is pivotable between a position in which the seat member is substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame. The strut extends between the vertical support frame and the seat member and acts to bias the seat member into the up position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hunting stands, and more specificallyto a tree stand for hunting that includes a self-lifting seat.

2. Description of the Related Art

A wide variety of portable tree stands are currently in use. Hunterscarry the tree stands into wooded areas to provide an elevated positionand a wide field of view while at the same time shielding the hunterfrom detection by forest wildlife. The tree stands are typically securedto the trunk of a tree at a desired elevation for use. Most typical treestands include a seating area that is elevated above a platform,allowing a user to be seated until the need arises to stand, typicallyon the platform, in order to take aim at the hunted wildlife. However,the nature of the design of these tree stands makes it difficult for thehunter to stand on the platform while avoiding contact with theprojecting seat.

What is needed is a tree stand with a hinged, self-lifting seat that canact as a horizontal seat support when sat upon, but will return to anupright position when not in use. Thus, a tree stand with seat liftsolving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tree stand with seat lift is adapted to be mounted to a tree orother upstanding object and includes a vertical support frame, a meansfor securing the vertical support frame around the tree, a seat member,and a strut. The vertical support frame has an upper end and a lower endand is supported against the tree with a means for securing the verticalsupport frame around the tree. The means for securing the verticalsupport frame around the tree will generally consist of a strap thatencircles the trunk portion of the tree. The seat member is hingedlyattached to the upper end of the vertical support frame and is pivotablebetween a position in which the seat member is substantially normal tothe vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member issubstantially parallel to the vertical support frame. The strut extendsbetween the vertical support frame and the seat member and acts to biasthe seat member into the position in which the seat member issubstantially parallel to the vertical support frame.

The tree stand may also include a platform extending from the lower endof the vertical support frame and a pair of support wires, each supportwire extending from the vertical support frame to the platform. Theseand other features of the present invention will become readily apparentupon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a tree stand with seatlift according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of a tree stand with seat lift accordingto the present invention with the seat member in the seated position.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of a tree stand with seat lift accordingto the present invention with the seat member in the upright position.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a tree stand with a lifting seat, designatedgenerally as 10 in the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, tree stand 10 is adapted for mounting on a treeT and includes a vertical support frame, a means for securing thevertical support frame around the tree, a seat member 14, and a strut18. The vertical support frame is designed to engage the tree T and hasan upper end and a lower end. Seat member 14 is hingedly attached to theupper end of the vertical support frame and is pivotable between aposition in which seat member 14 is substantially normal to the verticalsupport frame (as shown in FIG. 2) and a position in which seat member14 is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame (as shown inFIG. 3). Strut 18 extends between the vertical support frame and seatmember 14 with strut 18 biasing seat member 14 into the position inwhich seat member 14 is substantially parallel to the vertical supportframe. In this manner, seat member 14 can act as a horizontal seat andsupport the weight of a user when sat upon, but will return to anupright position when not in use, providing more space for the user tooperate in the vicinity of tree stand 10.

A preferred embodiment of tree stand 10 is shown in FIG. 1 with thevertical support frame including a pair of vertical support bars 12.Means for securing the vertical support frame around the tree T is astrap 20 that extends between vertical support bars 12 around the trunkportion of tree T. Seat member 14 is hingedly attached to the upper endsof vertical support bars 12 and is pivotable between a position in whichseat member 14 is substantially normal to vertical support bars 12 and aposition in which seat member 14 is substantially parallel to verticalsupport bars 12. Strut 18 extends between a single vertical support bar12 and seat member 14 with strut 18 biasing seat member 14 into theposition in which seat member 14 is substantially parallel to verticalsupport bars 12. A platform 16, provided for standing, extends from thelower end of vertical support bars 12 and is supported by a pair ofsupport wires 22, each support wire 22 extending from a vertical supportbar 12 to platform 16. In the preferred embodiment, strut 18 is astandard gas shock absorber.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A tree stand with a lifting seat adapted for mounting on a tree, thetree stand comprising: a vertical support frame for engaging the tree,the vertical support frame having an upper end and a lower end; a meansfor securing the vertical support frame around the tree; a seat memberhingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame, theseat member being pivotable between a position in which the seat memberis substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position inwhich the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical supportframe; and a strut extending between the vertical support frame and theseat member, the strut biasing the seat member into the position inwhich the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical supportframe.
 2. The tree stand according to claim 1, wherein the strut is astandard gas shock absorber.
 3. The tree stand according to claim 1,wherein the vertical support frame comprises at least one verticalsupport bar.
 4. The tree stand according to claim 3, wherein thevertical support frame comprises a pair of vertical supports bars. 5.The tree stand according to claim 4, wherein the means for securing thevertical support frame around the tree is a strap, the strap extendingbetween the vertical support bars.
 6. The tree stand according to claim5, further comprising a platform extending from the lower end of thevertical support frame.
 7. The tree stand according to claim 6, furthercomprising a pair of support wires, each support wire extending from avertical support bar to the platform.
 8. The tree stand according toclaim 7, wherein the strut is a standard gas shock absorber.
 9. A treestand with a lifting seat adapted for mounting on a tree, the tree standcomprising: a vertical support frame for engaging the tree, the verticalsupport frame having an upper end and a lower end; a strap extendingfrom the vertical support frame, the strap for securing the verticalsupport frame around the tree; a seat member hingedly attached to theupper end of the vertical support frame, the seat member being pivotablebetween a position in which the seat member is substantially normal tothe vertical support frame and a position in which the seat member issubstantially parallel to the vertical support frame; a strut extendingbetween the vertical support frame and the seat member, the strutbiasing the seat member into the position in which the seat member issubstantially parallel to the vertical support frame; and a platformextending from the lower end of the vertical support frame.
 10. The treestand according to claim 9, wherein the strut is a standard gas shockabsorber.
 11. The tree stand according to claim 9, wherein the verticalsupport frame comprises at least one vertical support bar.
 12. The treestand according to claim 11, wherein the vertical support framecomprises a pair of vertical supports bars.
 13. The tree stand accordingto claim 12, further comprising a pair of support wires, each supportwire extending from a vertical support bar to the platform.
 14. The treestand according to claim 13, wherein the strut is a standard gas shockabsorber.
 15. A tree stand with a lifting seat adapted for mounting on atree, the tree stand comprising: a vertical support frame for engagingthe tree, the vertical support frame having a pair of vertical supportbars, the vertical support frame having an upper end and a lower end; astrap extending between the vertical support bars, the strap forsecuring the vertical support frame around the tree; a seat memberhingedly attached to the upper end of the vertical support frame, theseat member being pivotable between a position in which the seat memberis substantially normal to the vertical support frame and a position inwhich the seat member is substantially parallel to the vertical supportframe; a strut extending between the vertical support frame and the seatmember, the strut biasing the seat member into the position in which theseat member is substantially parallel to the vertical support frame; anda platform extending from the lower end of the vertical support frame.16. The tree stand according to claim 15, further comprising a pair ofsupport wires, each support wire extending from a vertical support barto the platform.
 17. The tree stand according to claim 16, wherein thestrut is a standard gas shock absorber.